The Data Documentation Initiative (DDI)

Abstract

The Data Documentation Initiative (DDI) is an international effort to establish an XML-based standard for the compilation, presentation, and exchange of documentation for datasets in the social and behavioral sciences. The most recent version 3.0 of the DDI supports a rich and structured set of metadata elements that not only fully informs a potential data analyst about a given dataset but also facilitates computer processing of the data. Moreover, data producers will find that by adopting the DDI standard they can produce better and more complete documentation as a natural step in designing and fielding computer-assisted interviewing.